A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitted at longer wavelengths (X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio).

[1] The initial position, derived from the observations of all the aforementioned spacecraft, was estimated at a right ascension of 6h 13m 32.72s and a declination of −51° 55′ 36.77″.

[4] This corresponds to a distance of about 11 billion light years, making it the most distant gamma-ray burst that had ever been recorded up to that date.

However, it was not the most energetic: assuming isotropic emission, the total energy output of the burst was approximately 1054 ergs, placing it in second behind GRB 990123.

Furthermore, the gamma-ray data also suggested that the burst was beamed rather than isotropic, a characteristic which would further decrease the total energy output.